Details
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 243202 |
| Journal | Physical Review Letters |
| Volume | 119 |
| Issue number | 24 |
| Publication status | Published - 13 Dec 2017 |
Abstract
The ionization rate of an atom in a strong optical field can be resonantly enhanced by the presence of long-living atomic levels (so-called Freeman resonances). This process is most prominent in the multiphoton ionization regime, meaning that the ionization event takes many optical cycles. Nevertheless, here, we show that these resonances can lead to rapid subcycle-scale plasma buildup at the resonant values of the intensity in the pump pulse. The fast buildup can break the cycle-to-cycle symmetry of the ionization process, resulting in the generation of persistent macroscopic plasma currents which remain after the end of the pulse. This, in turn, gives rise to a broadband radiation of unusual spectral structure, forming a comb from terahertz to visible. This radiation contains fingerprints of the attosecond electron dynamics in Rydberg states during ionization.
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Physics and Astronomy(all)
- General Physics and Astronomy
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In: Physical Review Letters, Vol. 119, No. 24, 243202, 13.12.2017.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer review
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Symmetry Breaking and Strong Persistent Plasma Currents via Resonant Destabilization of Atoms
AU - Brée, Carsten
AU - Hofmann, M.
AU - Demircan, Ayhan
AU - Morgner, Uwe
AU - Kosareva, O.
AU - Savel'Ev, A.
AU - Husakou, A.
AU - Ivanov, M.
AU - Babushkin, Ihar
N1 - Funding information: I.B., U.M., and M.I. gratefully acknowledge the support of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) Priority Programme 1840 Quantum Dynamics in Tailored Intense Fields (QUTIF) (Grants No.BA 4156/4-1, No.MO 850-19/1, and No.IV 152/7-1). A.S. and O.K. acknowledge support from Russian Science Foundation (Grant No.16-42-01060). U.M. and A.D. acknowledge support of the DFG (Project No.MO 850-20/1). M.H. and C.B. acknowledge funding by the DFG (Grant No.BR 4654/1). M.I. acknowledges support from the U.S. DOD MURI Grant No.EP/N018680/1. I. B., U. M., and M. I. gratefully acknowledge the support of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) Priority Programme 1840 “Quantum Dynamics in Tailored Intense Fields” (QUTIF) (Grants No. BA 4156/4-1, No. MO 850-19/1, and No. IV 152/7-1). A. S. and O. K. acknowledge support from Russian Science Foundation (Grant No. 16-42-01060). U. M. and A. D. acknowledge support of the DFG (Project No. MO 850-20/1). M. H. and C. B. acknowledge funding by the DFG (Grant No. BR 4654/1). M. I. acknowledges support from the U.S. DOD MURI Grant No. EP/N018680/1.
PY - 2017/12/13
Y1 - 2017/12/13
N2 - The ionization rate of an atom in a strong optical field can be resonantly enhanced by the presence of long-living atomic levels (so-called Freeman resonances). This process is most prominent in the multiphoton ionization regime, meaning that the ionization event takes many optical cycles. Nevertheless, here, we show that these resonances can lead to rapid subcycle-scale plasma buildup at the resonant values of the intensity in the pump pulse. The fast buildup can break the cycle-to-cycle symmetry of the ionization process, resulting in the generation of persistent macroscopic plasma currents which remain after the end of the pulse. This, in turn, gives rise to a broadband radiation of unusual spectral structure, forming a comb from terahertz to visible. This radiation contains fingerprints of the attosecond electron dynamics in Rydberg states during ionization.
AB - The ionization rate of an atom in a strong optical field can be resonantly enhanced by the presence of long-living atomic levels (so-called Freeman resonances). This process is most prominent in the multiphoton ionization regime, meaning that the ionization event takes many optical cycles. Nevertheless, here, we show that these resonances can lead to rapid subcycle-scale plasma buildup at the resonant values of the intensity in the pump pulse. The fast buildup can break the cycle-to-cycle symmetry of the ionization process, resulting in the generation of persistent macroscopic plasma currents which remain after the end of the pulse. This, in turn, gives rise to a broadband radiation of unusual spectral structure, forming a comb from terahertz to visible. This radiation contains fingerprints of the attosecond electron dynamics in Rydberg states during ionization.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85038405661&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1103/PhysRevLett.119.243202
DO - 10.1103/PhysRevLett.119.243202
M3 - Article
C2 - 29286725
AN - SCOPUS:85038405661
VL - 119
JO - Physical Review Letters
JF - Physical Review Letters
SN - 0031-9007
IS - 24
M1 - 243202
ER -